Results 3,421-3,440 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Taxi Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy may be demanding an earlier one. He asked me for one and I gave it to him. It is 2019. That is where it is and-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Taxi Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: -----I am sorry but that is where it stays. The Deputy is not going to bamboozle me into changing it. The issue of safety is paramount. Deputy Boyd Barrett may recollect that I made a pledge about the issue of rickshaws, which is not dissimilar. Rickshaws act as quasi-taxis from time to time. They must be regulated and abide by rules that make people safe, not only the passengers but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Data (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I will first address the public transport area. My Department's high-level policy goal for accessible public transport, based on the principles of universal access to public transport, is being implemented through my Department's policies and funding. This includes new public transport facilities and infrastructure, retrofitting of older infrastructure, and accelerated investment in public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Data (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: We have made a lot of progress and I absolutely acknowledge we still have plenty to do. This applies not only to the areas to which the Deputy referred but also to others. Since 2010, all new taxi or hackney licences require wheelchair-accessible vehicles. In 2018, the appointment by me to the boards of the National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus of people with direct experience of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Data (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy referred to lifts. I have a few statistics on this that might help him. Across the rail network, of 144 stations, an average of 12 lifts were out of service per week in 2018. The reasons were vandalism, parts being required or technical call-outs. Vandalism accounted for lifts being out of service on over 44 occasions in 2018. Some issues were rectified within an hour while...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Data (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: Approximately 86% of Bus Éireann coaches are now wheelchair-accessible by lift, and this proportion will increase as the coach fleet is replaced.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I acknowledge the particular need for this to be accelerated in rural Ireland where there are difficulties caused by a lack of public transport. We will address that issue.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The RSA has pledged to continue to make improvements and I hope Deputy Troy will acknowledge them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Taxi Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: In Ireland, the carrying of passengers in a car for a payment is regulated under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The Act provides for the regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector, which includes taxis, hackneys and limousine services and is commonly referred to as the taxi industry. Under the legislation, the regulation of the SPSV business is carried out by the National...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Taxi Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I note the Deputy stated that Uber should be kept out of the market. I presume that was a throwaway remark because his question as tabled does not refer to Uber.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Taxi Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: On that throwaway remark, I am open to all constructive suggestions which would reduce social or rural isolation, such as the local hackney service referred to in a previous question. We will tackle that isolation. There are certain very important criteria in place for providers of such services. The potential scenario referred to by the Deputy was quite alarming. I am not prepared to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network Expansion (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I fully understand why Deputy Brendan Ryan says that, but some people on the south side would probably say that they recognise the difficulties, delays and objections on the northside.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network Expansion (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: It is. There are also the planning difficulties being experienced there in various areas. This is not a one-sided coin. There will always be planning difficulties, objections and public consultations. There will always be controversies about a project as big as this. We cannot object to the people of the southside having their say and having public consultations in Ranelagh and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network Expansion (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: No. It will be a great project that links north and south. When it comes to fruition in 2027 we will all welcome it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I am very aware of the current wait times for driving tests across the country. I accept that these waiting times remain high but I am assured that measures being put in place by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, are working towards reducing waiting times for the public. The authority's target for a national average waiting time for a driving test is no longer than ten weeks. The current...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I do not know how many are due to retire this year. I will give the Deputy some figures that are quite optimistic, although they might not please him much because of that. In his area the average waiting time in Athlone is 8.7 weeks and the longest waiting time is nine weeks. In Longford, the average waiting time is 10.9 weeks, which is again below the national average, and in Mullingar it...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: We are not far off it. The RSA has targeted ten weeks and it has hit 12 weeks, so it is not far off. To make it mandatory would be extremely difficult. I would love to see it below double digit figures and I hope that will happen. After the Clancy amendment, we anticipated that there would be a sharp rise and measures have been introduced in anticipation of that. More driver testers will...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I will always urge the National Transport Authority, NTA, to look at anything which might be a solution but I am sure it is looking at it already. It regularly looks at alternative suggestions if there is overcrowding in various areas and the overcrowding which the Deputy has spoken about certainly applies sometimes to various services. Alternatives are looked at and produced when that...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: -----which equates to approximately 95 busses being replaced each year out a current total complement of 1,136 vehicles.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network Expansion (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: MetroLink is one of the flagship projects proposed for delivery under Project Ireland 2040. The project envisages the development of a north-south urban railway service that will run between Swords and Sandyford, connecting key destinations along the 26 km route. A large proportion of the route will be underground, including where it passes under the important city centre area and Dublin...